Businesses that achieve the most by maintaining team productivity have the best chance of thriving in today's competitive marketplace. Effective teams are highly sought after in the workplace, but determining a winning combination to make an expert team is not easy. Whether you are an employer or an employee, starting out with the right team on any project or initiative can make all the difference between success and failure. Maintaining that winning team through to end is only possible if you are aware of how to maximize your team's potential.

Here are some strategies you can use to help your team stay on track and achieve maximum results:

1. Establish goals.

A team is only as good as its goals, so it's important to make sure that everyone on your team knows what they are and how they'll help achieve the company's vision and mission. Make sure that each member on your team understands their role in reaching these goals and gives them ownership over them. For example, if you're looking to create an internal website for new hires, make sure that everyone knows what they're expected to contribute and when it needs to be done by.

2. Set ground rules.

Entrepreneur and author John C. Maxwell says there are three types of teams: functional, project-based and goal-oriented. Each has different needs. If you're managing a functional team that works together every day, then your focus should be on creating a culture where people feel supported in their roles, appreciated for their contributions and confident they're part of a larger purpose.

If you're managing a project-based team that comes together to work on one specific goal over a short period of time, then it's important to set ground rules that address what each person needs to do his or her job well — and what he or she shouldn't do.

And if you're managing a goal-oriented team that meets periodically to discuss progress toward achieving the organization's mission or goals (which is often the case with executive teams), then your focus should be on establishing clear expectations around how members will interact with one another and engage with stakeholders outside the team.

3. Appoint a team leader.

When you're starting out, it's easy for everyone to have an equal voice and input into decisions. However, when it comes down to it, someone needs to take charge and make sure that everyone else is following through on their responsibilities.

This person should be someone who has experience in managing people and has at least some leadership skills — whether they're formally trained or not. A good way to find out if someone is suitable is by asking them if they would like to be team leader first and then deciding who would be best suited for the role based on their response.

4. Build a feedback mechanism.

How do you know if your team is performing at its best? The answer is simple – ask them!

Feedback is the most effective way to ensure that everyone on your team knows how they’re doing and what they need to work on. This is particularly important when it comes to knowing how well someone has performed in a specific role or project, as it can be difficult to tell when they’re doing an exceptional job. Have you considered implementing a workforce management software, it enables you to create custom questions so you can gain feedback from staff at the end of their shift. 

By using a tool like Crystal Knows, leaders can easily deliver feedback in the most effective way possible - by tailoring feedback to the personality type of each individual team member. By adapting how you deliver feedback, you can become a more effective manager by motivating every rep in the way they are most receptive to receiving feedback and instruction. 

The more often you give feedback, the better your team will perform. So make sure you have a system in place for providing feedback as often as possible.

5. Encourage creativity and brainstorming.

The best teams are made up of individuals who bring their unique skills and experiences to the table.

It's important to encourage creativity and brainstorming by allowing team members to share their ideas and opinions without fear of disapproval or ridicule. In fact, when you encourage open communication and discussion, you'll discover that your team members can bring a wide range of perspectives that can only enhance your business's performance in the long run.

Encouraging creativity also means rewarding the results rather than punishing failure. If someone has an idea that doesn't pan out, don't punish them for trying something new (unless, of course, it was a complete disaster). Instead, focus on what went right and use it as a learning experience for everyone involved.

6. Motivate the team to meet its goals.

The purpose of a team is to achieve a goal. So, if you want to maximise team performance, you need to ensure that your team's goals are clear and meaningful. The more specific you can be about the desired outcome, the better.

In addition, make sure the goals are realistic and challenging enough for your team. If the goal is too easy or too difficult, it will have little effect on motivation levels.

To motivate your team members to meet their goals, try asking them these questions:

• What do you hope to achieve by doing what we're doing?
• Why do you want to achieve that goal?
• How will you know when you've achieved it?
• If I asked one of your colleagues what they think of this meeting/project/task, what would they say?

Takeaway

The best way to boost team performance is to acknowledge each individual member's strengths, then make sure they get the latitude they need to contribute to the team in that capacity. Allow each member's role on the team to expand, and the whole will respond with greater output—and a more positive attitude.